A WOMAN who avoided being prosecuted for drink-driving because police took too long to find her has been criticised by a North campaign group.

Janette Binns, 40, gave a false name and details when she was arrested in February 2000 for driving with excess alcohol. She was already serving a five-year ban.

When she was finally traced earlier this year, it was too late to prosecute her.

Police said they made a number of inquiries during the two-year period in a bid to trace Binns, of Sefton Road, Middlesbrough. When they caught up with her, after a tip-off, the offences for which she would have been liable to prosecution were out of time.

Instead, she was given a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Peter Armstrong, said: "It may be that the magistrates' court could have sent you to prison and you would have had to suffer at least a three-year disqualification as well. You avoided that by giving the name and address of a former partner with whom you had a falling out.

"Due to the lapse of time, it means you cannot be prosecuted for drink-driving and driving while disqualified, so you may have avoided a custodial sentence."

The case has prompted calls for a change in the law.

Maria Cape, from the Campaign Against Drinking and Driving, said: "I think the law surrounding this needs to be changed immediately.

"It sends out the wrong sort of message. What she did was very devious. I hope she gets the help she obviously needs."